I took advantage of last week’s writing break to enjoy Cape Town’s continued clinging to summer. Although the mornings are now dark and some days are rain-drenched, others are temperate and clear-skyed. After February’s intense heat and dramatic wind, the…
“The beauty around us … is an end in itself.” – Rick Rubin Two weeks ago I wrote about the power of a librarian’s mindset; that by being both curious and curatorial we give ourselves the possibility of seeing…
This week’s letter was meant to be about war. I have sensed that the metronomic coverage of war with its detached geopolitical, strategic, and bland technological-capability-of-the-weapons aloofness was obscuring my vision of the truth. As we approach South Africa’s Human…
“Essentially, the whole process is: intuition plus iteration” – George Saunders Good morning friends I have wanted to write this letter for many months, but it has felt too difficult to get right, and then – surprise, surprise – I convinced…
You got the job. Now what? Today is our second letter on achieving success in your new job. Last week’s letter focused on some of the first steps you should take. In summary, they are: Take care of yourself –…
Good morning dear friends Summer has been making its way into the Cape. We have gone in search of views and vines, well actually wine but views and vines had a nice rhyme to it, and of course vines and…
It’s the 16th of October. We’re approaching the end of an arduous three years. Last year, Nicholas Christakis’s Apollo’s Arrow helped us explore the coronavirus context. As a reminder, Christakis is the director of The Human Nature Lab at Yale…
The Spark and Fire podcast profiles some of the world’s great creatives. Host, June Cohen, is also a creative pioneer. She is the CEO and co-founder of the award-winning media company, Wait What. I look forward to the day that someone interviews…
Good morning everyone I am grateful to Buddy Wells for his club The Blue Room. Each city needs a few good music venues. The rent really should be paid by the city, it is – to my mind – a public good. I…
Thank you for all the messages that I received after last week’s letter on gratitude. One of the messages I received was from Huda Booley, who told me that in the holy Quran, there’s a verse that translates as ‘if you…
I loved artist Simphiwe Ndzube’s posts honouring the great South African sculptors Noria Mabasa and Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi (You can read more about Sebidi here). It is wonderful to see someone who is experiencing contemporary success express gratitude for those who have influenced his way…
Over the past few weeks, it has felt to me that we could all do with some gentleness, with some love and kindness. When one looks, there is a lot to fall in love with. Of course, Banyana Banyana won…